LRA

Edmonton, AB – The inaugural K-Days rodeo has come and gone, and is making huge waves in the CPRA standings. For many, this rodeo has been a game changer as the rodeo had $50,000 added in each event with entry fees being $300, making for an outstanding payday, and an opportunity to make the Canadian Finals Rodeo

The K-Days rodeo ladies barrel racing champion Crystal Christman, decided to make a few adjustments during this past weekend after a chat with her husband.

“My husband showed me some video of how I was riding in the spring as opposed to recently, and I used that to help make some adjustments. As well, we changed bits in Kennedy to a combination chain that I haven’t used in about 15 years. Kennedy was a turning point towards improvement. I haven’t ever seasoned a horse out on the trail and I am so very grateful to all of the friends and family who have helped me along the way. It’s a bit of a dream come true to walk among this community and call them not just mentors but also my friends.” she said.

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to run at K-Days, but coming in as an alternate against the tough field of barrel racers up there, I didn’t have any expectations. We went in with the game plan to make our best run and enjoy the experience of coming down that particular alley. Lenny handled it all like he had been there a hundred times before. He was content to have his friend in the alley with him. When he came up the alley so calm and I let him pick his path to the first without bothering his face, I knew he was going to put a run together. It just felt so right. I didn’t know how fast it was going to be but it felt wonderful to have that trust back and make a smooth run. It was pretty surreal to hear the announcer say those three magical words ‘a new leader.’ ”

What could make this win even better? “Making a victory lap on my daughters horse made it that much more special.” Crystal said.

“I hope to continue to build trust with Lenny over the rest of the season. Binger is nearly healed up from a nasty cut and he is itching to get a chance to run this year as well! Peyton, Sterling and I will head to Medicine Hat and Bonnyville this week. I’m not sure where things will end up, but our family is so grateful to able to spend the time together doing what we love.”
Christman was sitting in 32nd position with just $3,838.02 won (standings including up to Teepee Creek Stampede) but by winning K-Days and roughly $11,446.00, it will move her to the top ten in the standings.

The K-Days rodeo paid 15 holes in the barrel racing, with last hole paying about $572. To be eligible to run at this rodeo you had to be in the top ten in the PRCA or WPRA from the 2016 standings, top CPRA 2016 standings (previously not qualified), top five in the PRCA/WPRA standings as of June 26th, 2017 (previously not qualified) ad top five CPRA 2017 standings as of June 26th, 2017 (not previously not qualified). If those who were qualified to enter did not enter, they went down the list.

The rodeo was great for CPRA and PRCA contestants as the money counts towards standings, but was not a WPRA approved rodeo, so a few WPRA competitors did not make it up to Edmonton as the money would’ve just been money in their pockets or to count towards CPRA standings, and for some, the CFR is not on their mind; The WNFR is instead.

The Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo was held in Salt Lake City, Utah this weekend, and yesterday the $50,000 Gold Medal winner was none other than the 2017 RFD-TV American winner, Hailey Kinsel. What a year her and Sis are having!

Sis aka DM Sissy Hayday is a gorgeous huge palomino by PC Frenchmans Hayday and out of Royal Sissy Irish who is by Royal Shake Em. The duo took home a grand total of $87,000 from the gold medal games and has punched her ticket to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this December in Las Vegas, Nevada! This win should move Kinsel into the top 3 of the WPRA standings from 24th!

Whitecourt,AB- Justine Elliot is KILLIN’ IT! This past weekend she either won or placed second at the three rodeos she ran at. At Hairy Hill she was only 5 thousandths of a second behind Jacqueline Marsh! What a season she is having!

Elliot and her horse Blondy will be heading down to Gillette, Wyoming for National High School Rodeo Finals this upcoming weekend. Best of luck to this duo, I know they will make Canada beyond proud!

Ponoka, AB- It boiled down to three Canadians and one American, chasing the title of Ponoka Stampede barrel racing Champion after a tough final round this afternoon.

Carman Pozzobon put on a clinic running a 17.417 in the short go on her buckskin mare Ripp, and a 17.626 in the showdown. The pair will be taking home a grand total of $15,614.69 from the weekend in Ponoka, along with an 8th place $925 cheque out of Williams Lake, BC.

Pozzobon was sitting 23rd in the standings prior to this weekend, and has now guaranteed herself another Canadian Finals Rodeo.

Miss Taylor Manning proved once again that she means business and can most certainly run with the big dogs, as the 13 year old was second in the short go and second in the show down, taking home a grand total of $9,365.65 this weekend from the Ponoka Stampede. This money will shoot her way up in the standings as she was sitting 33rd before this weekend kicked off.

Keep your eye out for this pair for the rest of the season, after this big weekend and still a few months remaining, I think we will see them in Edmonton this fall!

This past weekend Onion Lake put up $3,000 in added money in each of the major events making for a great payday to each event winner.

This added money brought 65 ladies out to wrap three barrels, and once again, Miss Justine Elliot came out on top running a 17.51 which was two tenths ahead of Sandra Carter who cashed in on second place.

“My run was good.” Justine recalled, “Blondy worked her best again!” she said.

Elliot who started the year in the junior barrel racing is now leading the standings in the ladies barrels by nearly $2,500, and will be by even more once this past weekend’s winnings are added into the mix.

“The season I’ve had so far has been great! I have won just over $10,000.” said Elliot.

To Northern Alberta, it was Briana Baudin who won the Spruce Point Park rodeo in Kinuso. Baudin ran a 16.203 on her horse Ebony.

“I was really happy with Eb! I had an awesome first, so I knew the rest of my run would be the same. She was really calm and relaxed warming up and going in, so I had a feeling it would be a good day.” she exclaimed.

Kellie Collier from Hereford, TX won Airdrie’s Pro rodeo this past weekend running a 15.039 for $2,462.80. Collier was number one in the Canadian standings heading into this weekend, and was number eight in the world.

Jane Melby took home the win and a purse of $4,110 out of Williams Lake after running a 16.328.

Innisfail, ALBERTA – Diane Skocdopole is making her runs count, winning her second CPRA rodeo of the year this past weekend at the Daines Ranch. She has now moved to 19th position after just eight rodeos with $3,348.75 won.

“My horse was strong and really sucked down and turned her first and second barrel. She didn’t finish 3rd as good as I’d have liked but it was ok being as we had to run out the corner gate. I’m just happy it all worked out.” she said.

The rodeo was packed all weekend, even selling out of physical tickets on Saturday night.

“It was super fun to get to run in a perf there. Such a great atmosphere and history at that rodeo!” said Skocdopole.

Full results from the June 17-18 weekend & current CPRA standings including Innisfail are below.

Marwayne, ALBERTA– Back to back weekend wins for Bobbie Goodwin and her horse Sonny. Last weekend it was the Leduc Black Gold rodeo, this weekend they won the Lea Park Rodeo in Marwayne, Alberta.

“It sure was a wet weekend.” Goodwin recalled of the monsoon June conditions. “Lea Park was pretty exciting! I think the luck of the draw helped me out. I knew Sonny liked that pen as we placed there last year. He worked so good that night; he ran hard and turned hard. We just finished racing and it down poured. It was kind of scary weekend for weather, we hit a crazy storm on our way to Brooks. It felt like we were chasing tornados! We ran in mud at Rocky and he worked good too, he loves mud, but we were just a little long there.” she said.

Over to Brooks where a wild storm ripped through, it was Lynette Brodoway who stole the show on SR EFFORT INMY BOOTS aka Rocket, her 8 year old gelding.

“I ran Friday evening. The weather was warm and the ground was great! I have run Rocket at most of the rodeos this spring that I have entered.” said Brodoway.

Crystal Christman won Rocky Pro rodeo with a 18.034 for an unofficial $2049.20.

“Rocky was our first rodeo this weekend and thankfully we were able to run there before the rain. The ground was fairly hard and a bit tricky to negotiate so I was very pleased with how Lenny handled it. We have been working on trusting each other more, especially to the first barrel. I rode one handed and he worked very well.” she recalled. “When we got to the first barrel, I felt him pick himself up a bit to adjust for the ground. Honestly, he was the one that made the smart move and I am grateful for it!” Crystal headed to Brooks and Lea Park after the torrential downpours.

“The committees worked hard to have the best ground possible and they did a great job! Thursday night Sonja Dodginghorse and I were riding out a wicked storm just outside of Brooks. The morning brought wind but the ground was actually pretty great, all things considered! We tipped the second barrel though, after a little slip.” Crystal was just out of the money in Lea Park.

“All in all, I was so very pleased with Lenny and his efforts this weekend. He is really starting to show how intelligent he is on different ground conditions and in different arenas. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to spend time with such a talented horse and so very grateful to all of the friends and family that have helped along the journey. I’d like to thank Kalyn Peloquin and Chelsea Moore for all of their help and support.” she said.

In the amateur associations Molly Marquette won Meadow Lake rodeo with a 13.050, and Miss Justine Elliot won both Wetaskiwin and Cadogan rodeos, with a 17.928 in Wetaskiwin, and a 15.9 in Cadogan.

The 14 year old won St. Albert Rainmaker rodeo just a few weekends ago, and is now running with the ladies instead of the juniors full time, proving thats where she belongs.

“When I ran at Cadogan it was when it was dry which was nice. I ran Blondy at both rodeos and she felt great at both of them.” said Elliot.

The 16th-18th weekend will include the following rodeos; CCA rodeos Coutts, Pilot Butte, and Radville, FCA rodeo Delburne which is triple approved including LRA and WRA, LRA rodeos Gooseberry Lake and Killam, and CPRA rodeo Innisfail, Alberta.

Leduc, ALBERTA- Welcome to June, where there’s a rodeo in every small town you drive through! This weekend there were nine rodeos between the CPRA, LRA, WRA, FCA and CCA!

At the Leduc Black Gold Rodeo, it was Bobbie Goodwin from Cranbrook, BC who ran the fast 13.456 on her gelding Raise N Speedy, aka Sonny, who is a Native of Seattle by Raise a Native. The pair took home roughly $2227.80, which will give them a nice boost in the standings.

“My run felt really good, he was getting a little short so I really felt I had to work at him just to get by. I was actually shocked when I heard my time, but he’s surprises me a lot with that, smoothness stops the clock is all!” she laughed. “I was excited when I heard it, I’ve kind of had slow spring placing just at Coleman. I’m not hauling a ton but to the ones I think he will like. Edmonton and area is my cutt off, and that’s still too far for me!”

South of Leduc at the Hand Hills Lake Stampede it was your 2014 Canadian Champion, Steffanie Mather-Moore who ran a 16.511, for $1283.10.

“I was back on Buck this weekend, the old man felt great and feels like his old self. He just went out and did his thing! We are ready to take on the rest of the month of June with a bang!” she said.

Out at the Stony Plain Sodbuster Rodeo, Kerstin Bennett won the ladies barrel race on her five year old mare Dolly.

“I exhibition her twice this year in November and started hauling her in December. She really hasn’t been run outdoors. I had no expectations!” admitted Kerstin.

Dolly is a reining bred paint Top Sail Whiz mare by Colonel Shooting Gun stud, who Bennett bought to be a heel horse. “I started her on the barrels and thought she was pretty cool. Before this weekend, I had only run her at High Prairie, St.Paul and Lac la Biche rodeos. I seriously just got lucky!” said Bennett.

The weekend of June 9-11th will include Brooks, Lea Park and Rocky Mt. House CPRA rodeos, Lancer, Settler and Warman CCA Rodeos, and Wetaskiwin, Cadogan, and Meadow Lake LRA rodeos

St.Albert, AB-Justine Elliot who is not quite 15 years of age, won the Saint Albert Rainmaker Rodeo by three tenths this weekend, beating out 83 ladies.

Justine ran a beautiful 15.918 to win the rodeo.

“Blondy worked extremely great, she was like a rocket the way she was coming out of her barrels.” Justine exclaimed. “When I came out of the arena I was expecting to be a 16.1 or a 16.2 but when they said I had ran a 15.9 I was surprised and a feeling of excitement came over me. I think Blondy could tell because she came out prancing. I didn’t think I was going to win seeing as there were 83 ladies.” she said.

The dynamic duo also won the Junior barrels at the Mayerthorpe rodeo. “Blondy was definitely on fire this weekend!” Justine said.

How were they able to run in both the ladies and the youth? There were no Junior Barrels to enter in St. Albert, so Justine’s dad Jody entered her in the Ladies.

“She has to decide which one she wants to enter now as she has won over $500 in the ladies. We were just testing the water at St. Albert but I think she will buy her full LRA card.” he said.

It was Sandra Carter who won the Ladies barrel race at the Mayerthorpe rodeo ,and pulled an eighth place cheque at St. Albert on her mare Dollar, who is out of a Judge Cash mare, and by HEZGOTTABEFAMOUS.

“She is quite an athlete and very fast. Dollar really is feeling good this year and starting to be more consistent. She is very corky but I love her. My run in Mayerthorpe felt fantastic; her first and second were so smooth, I came out wide a little on my third but she can run and we still clocked.” said Sandra.

Carter and Dollar have pulled cards in LRA,WRA,FCA, and CCA this year.

“Once I feel where she is doing best I will concentrate on that association and my goal this year is to make a finals. It’s so much fun going down the road and having such a great rodeo family.” she said.

The June 2nd-4th weekend will be host to three Canadian Pro Rodeo Assoc. rodeos, including Leduc Black Gold Rodeo, Grande Prairie Stompede, and Hand Hills. LRA rodeos include Cold Lake Stampede & Tofield Sodbuster, with the one WRA rodeo being the Stony Plain Farmer Days.

Thorsby, AB– Rumour has it an arena record was set at the Thorsby Haymaker rodeo this weekend. It was run by Shannon Blakely who dominated the amateur associations last year taking home well over $20,000, never venturing further than 3 hours from home.

Shannon and her trusty one eyed gelding Rowdy ran a 14.539, beating 97 other entries.

“It actually really surprised me how well he clocked there cause that was only his third run this year and he doesn’t even really have his air up yet, and we are usually pretty rusty in the spring.” Shannon said.

Blakely has decided to change it up this year. “I’m actually pretty excited, I just entered my first pro rodeo today. I never thought I’d do this but sometimes people come into your life that encourage you to try something different and just see what happens, and to not have any ‘what if’s’. I need to do this for Rowdy, he deserves it, so we will see how it goes!”

Shannon and Rowdy have entered for Grande Prairie and will be focusing on the Canadian Pro Rodeos in the coming months. Check out her interview from last year here.

In British Columbia this weekend, the Cloverdale Invitational rodeo was won by Kirsty White and her mare Racy. White & Carmen Pozzobon tied for first in Pool A.

“Going into the finals I was just going to try to really set up the run with my first barrel because its a bit wide open on the left first, and then finish it. I was thrilled to run the 15.92 but did not quite nail the first but was really happy with my time.” Kirsty recalled.

At the 99th annual Falkland Stampede, Shalayne Lewis and her horse were on fire running a 16.499 to take home $1485.

This coming weekend for amateur rodeo is Mayerthorpe & St.Albert, as for the CPRA it’s a free weekend. Grande Prairie, Handhills & Leduc, Alberta kick off the month of June.

DRAYTON VALLEY, AB- Just one Canadian Pro Rodeo on the map this weekend in Drayton Valley which ran Friday to this Sunday afternoon. The Yellow Rose Futurity/Derby was held in Claresholm, and there were no amateur rodeos.

Melissa Thiessen won Drayton with a 13.145 on Sunday afternoon, unofficially taking home $1929.58. “She’s been great all spring.” Thiessen said.

Also exciting this weekend, was 13 year old Taylor Manning placing fourth on 9 year old Good Little Nick aka Matlock, running a 13.275, taking home an unofficial $1194.50 and officially filling her card!

“My run felt really good, and I am so happy to fill my permit!” said Taylor. She and her sister Paige, who was just .02 out of placing, are going down the pro rodeo trail this year to try something new and have fun with their Mom Shelly Manning who will be driving all year as both girls are too young to drive!

In Claresholm, Chelsea Moore took home almost $4000 on her futurity gelding Leroy, winning the average and winning the second run by 2 tenths. Results from the Yellow Rose Futurity & Derby can be found sporadically on the event page via Facebook here.

COLEMAN, AB- A new arena record was set at the Kananaskis Pro Rodeo in Coleman, Alberta this weekend.

Carman Pozzobon on Ripn Lady ran a 12.449 with ease, adding roughly $1761.80 and moving her up in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association standings. Coleman had 84 barrel racers entered.

“I really didn’t expect it to win the rodeo let alone be a arena record. I went in there a little cautious from our wipe our in Red Bluff. Just safetied up and made sure we went around them. She’s feeling great this spring.” said Carman, who also placed 10th at Camrose this weekend.

“My plan is to try and get as much won up here early in the season then try and make it to most Columbia River Circuit rodeos to make that finals and some of the main biggest rodeos down there.” said Pozzobon. “I would like to make the CFR again aswell.”

In central Alberta, Diane Skocdopole smoked a 13.448 during slack at the Camrose Spring Classic, beating out 101 entries.

“My run felt smooth, she kind of took off on me in the alley so my last thought was ‘oh well, just go with it’! The rest of the run was how I planned just knew I had to keep riding all the way right into the alley so she didn’t shut down early.” Diane recalled. “When they said my time it was a mix of feelings between surprise and complete satisfaction that I rode how I wanted.” she said.

The amateur rodeo season kicked off this weekend in High Prairie, Alberta (Wildrose Rodeo Assoc.) which had 48 ladies entered in the barrels and and Saint Paul, Alberta (Lakeland Rodeo Assoc.) and had 63 enter up.

It was Tristan Johner who took home the W in Saint Paul on her horse Sir, running a 12.854.

“My run felt really nice and smooth, which was my goal for Saint Paul’s arena!”said Johner who travelled all over this weekend entering the two pro shows as well as both amateur rodeos. “My plans for the season are to continue to run Nike & Sir at most of the amateur rodeos and hopefully to keep going to some pro shows too. I just try to take things weekend by weekend and run by run.”

Ponoka Alberta cowgirl Jessie Vandenbroek is having a great start to the 2017 season winning High Prairie on her mare Dally, running a 13.167, the same mare she won the Ponoka Barrel Racing Series on earlier this month.

“Dally felt really great, she’s been feeling really good lately so that’s always exciting going into rodeo season. She’s very strong in small pens and I was really excited to see how nice of a pen High Prairie is. The committee was awesome moving some panels in the back for us to make sure it was safe getting in.” said Jessie.

Dally was listed for sale in the fall but had no serious buyers after learning more about the ringbone she has, so she decided to keep her, and that decision is paying off. “With working closely with my vet and farrier we’ve found how to keep her feeling outstanding. She’s a really special horse, ridiculously fast with an amazing mind so it makes it really easy to go places on her.”

Congrats to all the money earners this weekend!

Saint Paul Lakeland rodeo results will be found on the LRA website later this week.